Automatic circuit-closer for telegraph-keys



(No Model.)

A. A. STONEBURNER 8v J. H. KASPER.

AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT CLOSER FOR TELEGRAPH KEYS.

Patented Aug. 19, 1884.

W1 mqasszs 67 m JWe. M'

UNITED STATES PATENT tries.

AMOS A. STONEBURNER AND JACOB H. KASPER, OF DYER, INDIANA.

AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT-CLOSER FOR TELEGRAPH-KEYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 303,956, dated August 19, 1884.

Application filed March 17, 1884. -(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, AMos A. STONEBURNER and J noon H. Knsrnn, citizens of the United States, residing at Dyer, in the county of Lake and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Circuit-Closers for Telegraph-Keys, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Our invention relates to automatic circuitclosers for telegraphkeys; and its objects are to provide a simple and inexpensive device that will overcome the many objections attending the use of the ordinary switch, and to do away with the clumsy and excessive mechanism of former devices of a similar nature to our attachment. It is so constructed as to be adapted to be attached to the lever-arm of any key.

In the accompanying drawing is shown a perspective view of an ordinary telegraph key with our improved device thereon. It will be unnecessary to describe the key in detail, as its construction is common and well known.

A represents the ordinary lever-arm of a telegraph-instru ment, to the outer end of which is attached the usual button or knob, B, of rubher or other material.

0 represents a metal clamp adapted to embrace the lever-arm and to slide thereon and be fixed at any point by means of the thumb screw D, which passes through the two side pieces of the clamp and under the arm. On each end of the top of the clamp is raised an ear, E. Through the cars (which form a fulcrum therefor) is passed a lever, one end, 15-, being bent, so as to be parallel with the leverarm and also project downward till it engages with the metal ring or anvil surrounding the insulated contact- )oint oftheinstrument. The other end, G, is bent so as to bring it around the ear and over the arm parallel with the length of the same. To this end is attached a disk, H, of rubber or other insulating material, by means of a short neck, which the said lever enters, as shown.

I represents a spring surrounding the lever between the ears E, and which is adapted to keep the end F normally in contact with the insulated point of the instrument, while the disk is kept above the button on the end of the lever-arm, and thus closes the circuit, as will be readily seen.

When the operator wishes to send a message, he presses the disk down till it reaches the button, and thereby raises the other end from the ring surrounding the contact-point.

The weight of the operators fingers keeps the disk pressed down while he is sending a message, and immediately, when he is through and takes his fingers off the disk, the force of the spring causes the disk to rise and the other end of the device to fall till it reaches the ring surrounding the contact-point, and thereby closes the circuit, as before mentioned.

Being automatic, this device obviates the delays arising from failure of the operator to close the circuit, as often happens when the usual switch is used.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is 1. A detachable circuit-closer consisting of a clamp embracing the lever-arm of a telegraphkey, and adj ustably secured thereto, and a lever fulcrumed on said clamp and having one end kept normally in contact with the insulated point by a spring, and the other at tached to a disk which covers and rests slightly above the knob or button on the end of the lever-arm of the instrument, all the parts operating as an entirety to automatically close the circuit, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 

